In a message to newlyweds on Sunday evening Archbishop Mons. Joseph Mercieca said that despite the numerous difficulties Maltese families are facing at present, unity and goodness is still plentiful. "The fact that most newlyweds seek the sacrament of marriage shows that the roots of Maltese families are still essentially Catholic," explained the Archbishop.

However Archbishop Mercieca also made reference to "certain mentalities and attitudes" which cannot have the Catholic Church’s blessing for they are not formulated "according to God’s plan". The Archbishop spoke in a mass at St. John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta.

"Unfortunately, even in our country, there is no shortage of propaganda pushing forward the mingling outside of marriage, cohabitation, infidelity, adultery and divorce as an inevitable circumstances of modern life," stated that Archbishop.   

He added that God wants married couples to live a genuine and effective, where the complimentary life, where the father and mother raise children hand in hand with full responsibility and with a living respect to their natural calling as parents bound together.  

"As a Spiritual leader I am saddened to see persons directly or indirectly pushing forward thoughts that can slowly lead Maltese society to accept the idea of divorce and feel that it cannot do without the legislation of such divorce," carried on the Archbishop.  

As he had done five years ago, Mons. Joseph Mercieca also called on all families to trust in God and live according to the Nazareth family model.